A lot of Democrats won in states they usually never win, they are only there because Bush's failure, now I expect Republicans to pick up those states again. At least Congress may find a way to work together again.

When is the vote today?

Honestly, I don't care if it passes or not, because there are 2 outcomes:

1) It doesn't pass. Democrats look stupid, go to other, more pertinent problems (and hopefully don't act as stupid as they have with this bill)
2) It does pass. Americans get really PO'ed with the bill, states deem it unconstitutional, and the Dems get voted out in November. New congress rolls the bill back, and is a major block to Obama passing any left-of-center legislation without bipartisanship.

So pick your poison. This is the most hated congress in all history, and for good reason. Obama's approval rating has dropped like a rock since the Dems said they would try to vote on the bill this week (down 3-4pts on average just this week, first negative approval rating in his presidency).

If it passes, I see the major issues being for chain retailers. Since the bill fines every company $2,000 for not providing health care (for companies over >50 full time employees), I would imagine they will either provide a really atrocious health care package because they have to, or they raise their prices to horrendous levels to compensate.

Correct.

All major polls indicate that if voters feel the same way today, and continue down the same path, Republicans will pick up about 20 seats in congress, and 7 seats in the senate. That would make the senate 48/50 (2 independants, AFAIK in Sanders and Liberman) in favor of the D's.

The scary thing is (for Dems) that many states that normally do not vote Republican are leaning in that direction. Massachusettes voted for a Republican senator - first in over 3 decades. California polls have Boxer in the lead by just 1-4% which is insane...So the swing could potentially be devastating for the Democrats.

I agree that congress needs to work together. We usually have the best results when its a mixed congress, and a moderate president. That, or a mixed congress and a smart president (ala Regean)

The ony issue is things couldnt be worst for the Democrats right, and November is months away, a couple bills passed, a more stable economy, and just like that things changes.

The biggest issue people have with Obama is the fact he hasnt done much, but in life, all you need is to have one thing done, then the others follow.

We are way too quick in claiming this Republican victory. But you are right, people hate congress.

So what bills has the congress undertaken that would have far-reaching positive effects for people? The problem is that congress has spent months on health care, which ensures that they won't have the time for more meaningfun legislation. You are correct that things could change, but honestly, given what congress is like right now....The chances for that are very slim.

Not sure the exact time, but sometime this afternoon.

I would love it if you explained why you think state government is better than the federal government.

I still have mixed feelings on all of this. If it passes, well then we haven't done our job right as this is not going to help. But if it doesn't pass, we screw health care reform for years to come and big insurance companies can continue to "rape" Americans of their rights.


This is really just what happens when you have a government of all the people who shouldn't be elected. We elect "suits" and for the rest of us we have no representation. And then they see the only representation they think we have are these extremist neo-fascists that call themselves the "tea party".

I guess for me I'm pretty apathetic about the situation as I really don't care what happens now. When its all over anyways, no one will give a shit anymore just like they never give a shit before the media tells them to care. And that's the big problem in America. The people don't care until they think they are supposed to care, and then they get it wrong. Guess I don't blame the "suits" in Congress as much as I blame the people themselves.

Oh well, after work I'll see what happened.

let it pass I am so sick of stagnation in government and annoying extremists watering good ideas down. Do nothing now and we remain the joke to other countries that provide all their citizens with health care.

Live feed, FYI:

http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=5879